Fibrous mats containing chitosan nanofibers

Abstract

The invention relate to fibrous mats comprising chitosan nanofibers and, optionally, at least one filler material, at least one additive, or both. The invention also relates to methods of making same, and devices that include a fibrous mat comprising chitosan nanofibers.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A fibrous mat comprising chitosan nanofibers having an average diameter of about 50 to about 120 nanometers, wherein said fibrous mat is substantially free of fibers of polyethylene oxide or fibers of poly(vinyl alchohol), and wherein said chitosan nanofibers are electrospun from chitosan. 
     
     
       2. The fibrous mat according to  claim 1  further comprising a filler material. 
     
     
       3. The fibrous mat of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one filler material is clay, diatomaceous earth, calcium carbonate, metakaolinite, limestone, carbon black, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       4. The fibrous mat of  claim 2  comprising about 0.1% to about 60% by weight of said filler material. 
     
     
       5. The fibrous mat of  claim 1 , wherein the chitosan is cross-linked after fiber production. 
     
     
       6. The fibrous mat of  claim 5 , wherein the chitosan is cross-linked using glutaraldehyde vapor. 
     
     
       7. The fibrous mat of  claim 1 , wherein the chitosan is cross-linked during fiber production. 
     
     
       8. The fibrous mat according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one additive. 
     
     
       9. The fibrous mat of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one additive comprises a dye, polymer, particle, nanoparticle, organic molecule, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       10. The fibrous mat of  claim 9 , wherein the dye is nile red or phthalocynanine green. 
     
     
       11. The fibrous mat of  claim 9 , wherein the polymer comprises hyaluronic acid, alginate, chitin, carboxymethylated chitosan, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       12. The fibrous mat of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one additive comprises particles or nanoparticles comprising manganese, gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       13. The fibrous mat of  claim 9 , wherein the organic molecule is a cross-linker, a protein, or an enzyme. 
     
     
       14. The fibrous mat of  claim 13 , wherein the organic molecule comprises a cross-linker, and the cross-linker comprises glutaraldehyde. 
     
     
       15. The fibrous mat of  claim 8  wherein the nanofibers consist essentially of chitosan. 
     
     
       16. The fibrous mat of  claim 8  further comprising at least one filler material, wherein the filler material is clay, diatomaceous earth, calcium carbonate, metakaolinite, limestone, carbon black, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       17. The fibrous mat according to  claim 16  comprising about 0.1% to about 60% by weight of said filler material. 
     
     
       18. A filter comprising a fibrous mat according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
       19. A scaffold comprising a fibrous mat according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
       20. The fibrous mat according to  claim 1  wherein said chitosan nanofibers are electrospun from chitosan in the presence of a tri-halo carboxylic acid solvent. 
     
     
       21. A filter comprising a fibrous mat according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       22. A scaffold comprising a fibrous mat according to  claim 1 .